Oh, how the truck world has mocked the Honda Ridgeline. “It’s not a truck,” they are saying. To be honest, the Ridgeline is not a standard truck, and falls quick in some fairly essential truck classes. The purpose? The Ridgeline makes use of a unibody design versus a extra conventional body-on-frame design. The fundamental real-world penalties of this engineering determination should do with towing and payload capability. The Ridgeline does lag behind in these classes, but if towing is a top priority, a full-size pickup is likely to be the higher place to take a position your cash.

Honda launched the primary technology of the Ridgeline in 2006 and ended manufacturing in 2014. After a short hiatus, the nameplate returned to adorn a redesigned second-generation truck in 2017. The second-generation truck obtained a serious refresh in 2020 and has undergone vital modifications for the 2024 mannequin yr. You’ll have to look intently to see what has been up to date, as lots of the modifications are greatest noticed behind the wheel.

What’s New For 2024?

The second-generation Honda Ridgeline has been in the marketplace since 2017. In 2020, it bought a big refresh, which included a redesigned front-facia and a brand new ZF constructed 9-speed automated transmission. The refresh additional differentiated the Ridgeline from the Honda Pilot visually and the 9-speed was a welcome alternative for Honda’s getting old 6-speed unit. For 2024, Honda has made some welcome updates on the tech entrance. Gone is the dated gauge cluster from earlier years, and instead is the same cluster found in other Honda models like the Civic, Accord, and CR-V.

2024 additionally means an up to date 9″ infotainment screen, a nice size increase over the 8″ display present in prior years. Honda has reportedly up to date the processor as effectively, so it ought to be even nearer to smartphone speeds. The exterior modifications embrace a brand new rear-end design with “Ridgeline” stamped onto the tailgate, very similar to you’d see on a Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger and a few minor revisions to the entrance grill. Sadly, the wonderful in-bed audio system has been discontinued for 2024. It was a singular function that additional differentiated the Ridgeline from opponents, and it is unlucky to see it eradicated.

Perhaps crucial change for consumers to notice is the discontinuation of the RTL-E trim. The newly launched “Trailsport” trim will substitute it and function the truck’s new off-road-oriented model, following within the footsteps of the Passport and Pilot Trailsport.

2024 Highlights

• New 9″ touchscreen infotainment show
• New 7″ digital/analog gauge cluster display (an identical to Civic, Accord, and different late-model Honda’s)
• “Ridgeline” now stamped into tailgate
• RTL-E trim discontinued in favor of latest “Trailsport” trim
• In-bed audio system discontinued

Exterior Dimensions

Engine Specifications And Performance

Under the hood of the Ridgeline is the venerable 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6. Unlike the brand new Tacoma and Ranger, the Ridgeline continues to supply a extra old-school V-6 expertise. Power output is respectable, with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, making for a fairly fast truck. With a 6.2 second 0-60 MPH time, it is a hair faster than a Chevrolet Silverado SS. The ZF-made 9-speed automated shifts easily and works along side the engine to maintain you within the powerband.

The Ridgeline additionally comes with normal AWD, and attributable to its household SUV underpinnings and unibody development, it handles its weight effectively and rides much better than its body-on-frame opponents. Payload capability is stable, however a towing capability of solely 5,000 kilos falls in need of equally outfitted mid-size choices from Toyota, Ford, and General Motors.

Performance Specifications

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Honda Ridgeline

• New 7″ gauge cluster display
• Updated 9″ infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
• Plentiful and intelligent storage
• 60/40 cut up lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage

The inside hasn’t modified drastically, however house owners of earlier mannequin years will discover some apparent variations. The most evident change is the redesigned gauge cluster display and the brand new steering wheel controls. The touchscreen is now larger and sooner, and wi-fi smartphone connectivity is now normal on even the bottom trim. The Ridgeline has all the time had a powerful quantity of intelligent inside storage, and that continues for 2024. The roll-top cubby has been changed by a extra conventional heart armrest, that means the twin seat-mounted armrests have been eradicated.

All however the base Sport trim include leather-based or artificial leather-based heated seats. If you go for the Black Edition, you now get ventilated entrance seats and heated rear seats, making for fairly an expensive passenger expertise. The Black Edition additionally comes with a 540-watt, 8-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. If you are an audiophile, this is likely to be a worthwhile improve over the decrease trim’s 215-watt 7-speaker system.

Technology

Honda’s newer infotainment system is quick, intuitive, and has a couple of laborious buttons to make navigating menus extra simple. The native system is stable, and the inclusion of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as normal is a pleasant contact. However, the brand new 9″ display shouldn’t be as instantly obvious because the up to date gauge cluster display. Though half digital, like in different Honda fashions, the brand new gauge cluster display is an unlimited enchancment over the extremely dated analog cluster used via the 2023 mannequin yr. It’s truly very laborious to inform that the speedometer is analog except you catch it on the proper angle. The new cluster is extra configurable, readable, and modern-looking.

Honda has redesigned the steering wheel controls along side the brand new gauge cluster. To navigate its menus, Honda has carried out a scroll wheel that may be pressed as a choose button. Additionally, the d-pad model quantity and monitor management have been changed with extra tactile rocker-style switches that ought to be simpler to function with out taking your eyes off the highway. Honda excels at making automobiles full of user-friendly tech that meets fashionable shopper expectations however does not overwhelm consumers new to the Honda model.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The Honda Ridgeline obtained glorious marks for security from the NHTSA and the IIHS. It obtained 5 stars throughout the board and is the superior automobile when it comes to security in comparison with its opponents. The Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma all fall in need of the Ridgeline with respect to security. Much of that has to do with the aforementioned unibody design, in addition to the Ridgeline’s shared underpinnings with the Honda Pilot. If you are in search of a household automobile with top-notch security, however require the utility of a truck design, the Ridgeline is arguably one of the best fitted to that use case.

When it involves reliability, J.D. Power provides the 2024 Ridgeline an 80/100 for projected reliability. The Ridgeline is powered by a tried and true J35 V-6 that Honda has been utilizing for a few years throughout many fashions. The sturdy V-6, accompanied by the shift (pun meant) to the ZF-made 9-speed automated in 2020, ought to give some peace of thoughts relating to long-term possession. That mentioned, there is not sufficient stable information but on late mannequin Ridgeline’s to precisely predict long-term reliability.

Driver Assistance Features

All 2024 Ridgelines come normal with the Honda Sensing Suite. This contains Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Monitor, and another good options like auto excessive beams. The Trailsport and Black Edition trims come normal with Blind Spot Monitoring, LED daytime operating lights, and parking sensors entrance and rear.

All Ridgeline trims additionally come normal with one thing Honda calls Electronic Brake Distribution. According to Honda, this helps to prevent ABS intervention in hard but non-emergency stops by reducing rear braking force. Weight transfers to the entrance throughout laborious stops, so the entrance tires can have better traction than the rear. Because EBD reduces rear braking drive, it permits laborious stops to be extra managed and secure.

• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

IIHS Crash Testing

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 0
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: 0

Note: Though no complaints, remembers, or investigations are at the moment listed on the NHTSA website for the 2024 Honda Ridgeline, the earlier yr had 41 complaints, 1 recall, and one investigation.

Warranties

Honda presents its normal guarantee suite for the 2024 Honda Ridgeline. The full restricted guarantee is 3 years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain guarantee for the V-6, 9-speed auto, and different powertrain elements is 5 years or 50,000 miles. Honda additionally supplies a 2-year or 24,000-mile upkeep program for all new automobiles that covers oil modifications and tire rotation. In addition to upkeep protection, Honda contains 3 years or 36,000 miles of roadside help and 5 years or limitless miles of corrosion protection.

Year Make Model Versus Its Competitors

The Honda Ridgeline is arguably in its personal class. Though it usually will get lumped in with different mid-size vans just like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma, it is not a body-on-frame truck. The Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick are unibody just like the Ridgeline, however signify the smaller compact pickup section. That mentioned, the Ridgeline is a mid-size truck and, in consequence, will seemingly be cross-shopped with different mid-size vans regardless of being the one unibody providing within the section.

How The Honda Ridgeline Compares To The Toyota Tacoma

• 	2024 Honda Ridgeline	2024 Toyota Tacoma
  Model	Honda Ridgeline	Tacoma
  Engine	3.5-liter V-6	2.7-L Turbo I-4
  Transmission	9-speed automated	8-Speed Automatic or 6-Speed Manual
  Horsepower	280 HP @ 6000 RPM	278 HP @ 6000 RPM or 228 HP @ 6000 RPM
  Torque	262 LB-FT @ 4700 RPM	317 LB-FT @ 1600 RPM or 243 LB-FT @ 1600 RPM
  Driveline	All-wheel drive	4×2, 4×4
  MSRP	$39,750 – $46,350	$31,500 – $52,100
  Fuel Economy	21 MPG Combined	22 MPG Combined
  Towing Capacity	5,000 LBS	6,500 Pounds (max)

The Toyota Tacoma is all new for the 2024 mannequin yr. Gone is the getting old third-generation Tacoma, which, for some, is a purpose to mourn. Gone are the bulletproof naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 and a couple of.7-liter I-4; of their place is a turbocharged 2.4-liter I-4. This begs the query: will the turbocharging compromise reliability? We can speculate on how a lot a small displacement turbo motor will influence long-term sturdiness, however finally, we can’t know till they have been on the highway for a couple of years. If that could be a concern, the Ridgeline nonetheless presents a great previous J-Series V-6 that gives loads of energy and has been utilized in Honda merchandise for years.

The excellent news is the brand new Tacoma has some major improvements over the outgoing model. The rear leaf springs have been changed by coil springs, which permit for a way more comfy highway expertise than the earlier technology. Perhaps most significantly, the most recent in Toyota tech has lastly caught up with the occasions. With an obtainable 14-inch infotainment display, the enhancements ought to be pretty straightforward to identify and are definitely in the identical league as what Honda presents on the Ridgeline. That mentioned, with each fashions receiving vital updates for 2024, the most important dedication for consumers will seemingly be down to make use of case.

The Tacoma is an off-road beast. Depending on which trim you choose, it has an obtainable digital locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, and crawl management. The Ridgeline Trailsport simply cannot compete, particularly provided that the TRD Off-Road begins at solely $41,800 in comparison with the Trailsport’s almost $45,000 price ticket. The Tacoma is the clear selection if you would like a succesful, rugged off-roader. The Ridgeline is a greater on-road companion, and although it has no cheap equal to the Tacoma’s SR and SR5 trims, it comes fairly loaded with options even within the “cheaper” Sport and RTL trims.

How The Honda Ridgeline Compares To The Chevrolet Colorado

• 	2024 Honda Ridgeline	2024 Chevrolet Colorado
  Model	Honda Ridgeline	2024 Chevrolet Colorado
  Engine	3.5-liter V-6	2.7-L turbo inline-four
  Transmission	9-speed automated	Eight-speed automated
  Horsepower	280 HP @ 6000 RPM	310 HP @ 5,600 RPM
  Torque	262 LB-FT @ 4700 RPM	430 pound-feet @ 3,000 RPM
  Driveline	All-wheel drive	RWD and 4WD
  MSRP	$39,750 – $46,350	$31,095 – $60,540
  Towing Capacity	5,000 LBS	7,700 kilos

Like the Tacoma, the Colorado (and Canyon) is a way more succesful “truck” within the conventional sense. The Colorado has the incredible ZR2 trim, which incorporates the two.7-liter TurboMax engine, which produces 310 horsepower and a whopping 430 lb-ft of torque. To make it extra off-road succesful, it additionally comes with DSSV Multimatic suspension dampers, a 3-inch manufacturing facility elevate with upgraded suspension, a number of protecting skid plates, and a 2-speed switch case with locking entrance and rear differentials. The Colorado ZR2 will set you again $48,395, with the Bison bundle including $11,700 if you wish to go loopy.

While the Tacoma presents a buffet of various trims and packages, permitting you to select the right spec, the Colorado is usually extra geared in direction of off-road use, just like the Ridgeline’s penchant for good on-road manners. Unlike the Ridgeline, which mainly comes loaded with probably the most fascinating tech and goodies within the $42,580 RTL trim, the Colorado does not get most of these luxurious options till you spend the $48,395 it will set you again for the ZR2. That mentioned, the $445 Safety Package, $950 Technology Package, and the $1,625 Z71 Convenience Package II will embrace a lot of the options the Ridgeline has as normal on the RTL and above.

It ought to be mentioned that the Ridgeline is not hopeless off-road. In truth, with the introduction of the Trailsport trim, it is higher than ever. Unfortunately, like with Tacoma, in the event you actually wish to do any correct off-roading, the Colorado is a greater worth proposition. The Colorado and Tacoma each profit from a redesign in 2023 and 2024, respectively, whereas the Ridgeline’s second technology is getting a bit lengthy within the tooth. That mentioned, it nonetheless comes out as the higher on-road automobile with extra fascinating options as normal.

How Much Does A Year Make Model Cost?

The Sport begins slightly below $40,000, and although it’s nonetheless an honest worth proposition, the RTL provides power-adjustable heated leather-based seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-sliding rear window, and heated aspect mirrors, amongst different issues. For the extra $2,830, we really feel the RTL is likely to be the candy spot. That mentioned, for less than one other $2,400 extra, the Trailsport will get you an off-road-tuned suspension, a skid plate, and General Grabber A/T Sport rubber measuring 245/60R18 to provide you a style of that ZR2/TRD taste the Ridgeline has been lacking. The Black Edition begins at $46,350, so it’s kind of of a leap, but it surely does include an upgraded 8-speaker which will sway you in the event you’re in search of a mid-size luxurious truck providing.

Fuel Economy

All Ridgeline trims besides the Trailsport get roughly the identical gasoline economic system. The Trailsport’s freeway and mixed ranking are compromised because of the General Grabber All-Terrain tires and thus lose a single MPG within the Highway and Combined ranking. The gasoline economic system remains to be fairly aggressive, particularly provided that the Ridgeline’s solely engine possibility is a naturally aspirated V-6 and most of its competitors has moved to smaller displacement turbocharged 4 cylinders.

GAS

(Estimated gasoline prices assume a mean of 15,000/yr and use the nationwide common gasoline worth of $3.39)

Is It Worth Buying the 2024 Honda Ridgeline?

In quick, it relies on what you want from a truck. The Ridgeline presents the most recent Honda tech, is safer than opponents (largely due to the unibody design), and is a utilitarian dream. Not solely do you get a number of intelligent inside storage, however 33.9 cubic toes of storage within the mattress and a further 7.3 cubic toes of storage within the in-bed trunk. The Ridgeline seems like a truck, rides like a household crossover, and might haul sufficient to be fairly aggressive with its body-on-frame competitors. It does fall a mean of 1,500 kilos in need of opponents relating to towing capability. However, within the case of the Tacoma and Colorado/Canyon, when fitted with their base four-cylinder engines, they’ll solely haul a tepid 3,500 kilos in contrast with the Ridgeline’s 5,000-pound capability.

Despite the brand new Trailsport trim and class-competitive towing capability, the Ridgeline is not your best option for off-roading or heavy-duty truck work. That mentioned, with glorious utility, security, and a correctly comfy trip, the Ridgeline is a incredible possibility for the one that wants a little bit of truck functionality with out the compromises of a mid-size or full-size body-on-frame rig.